Bhansali's 'Chenab Gandhi' on track

By Joginder Tuteja

Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Chenab Gandhi", based on the life of freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, will go on floors in May, contrary to reports that it had been pushed to the year-end.

A few weeks back, when Hurman Baweja was replaced by John Abraham in this period film, tongues had started wagging that it would be quite some time before "Chenab Gandhi" would hit the floors. The reason being cited was that John was too busy working on "Hook Ya Crook" to spare time for "Chenab Gandhi, which has superstar Amitabh Bachchan playing the lead role.

"There are some vested interests who are trying to pull down the project or create negative energy around it. The fact is that John completes 'Hook Ya Crook' on April 20 and we begin shooting for 'Chenab Gandhi' on May 8. Now how quick is that!," said Bhansali's spokesperson.

Apparently, John was willing to begin on an earlier date but Bhansali insisted that he take a break after "Hook Ya Crook" and go through some reading material in order to prepare for his role in "Chenab Gandhi", which is being directed by the filmmaker's long-time assistant Vibhu Puri.

"John was sweet enough to offer dates immediately after 'Hook Ya Crook' but as everyone knows, Bhansali doesn't operate that way. He wants his actors to feel comfortable about their roles, the era and the milieu in which the film is set. Since 'Chenab Gandhi' is a period film, it was imperative that John spends some time on reading about the subject before coming for the shoot," the spokesperson said.

The period political drama based on the freedom fighter from North West Frontier Province, widely known as Frontier Gandhi, also stars Vidya Balan apart from Amitabh and John.

Shooting for the film will begin on sets in Mumbai and would be completed in two to three schedules. The principal shoot of 'Chenab Gandhi' is expected to wrap up before end of 2009, the spokesperson said.

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